PROCEEDINGS STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 99 



IOWA STATE FAIR 



There is no reason why the richest agricultural state in the Union 

 should not have the greatest live stock and agricultural fair in the 

 Union. 



And that was exactly what Iowa had in 1922. 



Agricultural writers from the far corners of the United States 

 who came to view this sixty-eighth annual exposition of Iowa's 

 unbounded wealth, found themselves gasping for words with which 

 to surpass the pictures which they had drawn of it in their writ- 

 ings of previous years. It was so gigantic in its proportions, so 

 intensive in the thoroughness with which it covered every field of 

 the state's diversified agricultural interests, so interesting even for 

 the mere amusement-seeker that comparative phrases were hard to 

 find. 



It was a triumphant state fair. 



Live stock, farm produce, machinery, automotive equipment, boys 

 and girls' club work, women's activities, state institutions, fish 

 and game — these are a few of the outstanding feaures which were 

 arrayed against a minor background of everything that Iowa raises, 

 makes and uses. 



But better than any of these features were Iowa's own people. 

 There were 361,261 of them who passed through the state fair 

 gates this year. One editor's comment declared that the people 

 themselves were the most interesting and inspiring part of the entire 

 exposition. They were happy, prosperous, contented people. They 

 gave one the feeling of stability, honesty, intelligent progress. They 

 left no doubt in one's mind as to the reason for Iowa's unquestioned 

 supremacy in agriculture. 



The dominant success of the fair is reflected in the fact that the 

 attendance of 1922 showed an increase of more than 23 per cent 

 above that of the previous year. And, had it not been for rainy 

 weather on several days, it is believed that the total number of fair 

 visitors might have been even 50,000 or 60,000 higher. This would 

 have set a new mark for Iowa State Fair crowds. 



Weather bureau statistics show that 2.60 inches of rain fell on 

 Tuesday, the day before the opening of the fair. This put the roads 

 in bad condition for automobile travel. Automobiles are becoming 

 more and more one of the most important means of travel for state 

 fair visitors. On Saturday night .64 inches of rain fell and on 

 Monday night .13 inches. 



